Cheshire West and Chester Council refuses debate over proposed Gyspy site

Oct 6 2011 by David Holmes, Chester Chronicle

Cheshire West and Chester Council outlaws debate over proposed Gyspy site

CAMPAIGNERS have dubbed the council ‘undemocratic’ after refusing a debate over a proposed Gypsy and Traveller site.

Residents handed in a 3,612-strong petition opposing Cheshire West and Chester Council’s plan for a site on green belt land at Oakwood Farm, in Parkgate Road, Saughall.

The petition will be fed into the public consultation if and when a planning application is formally lodged.

But campaigners, who were filmed for local TV news, also hoped it would trigger a debate at full council after passing the 1,500-name threshold required.

However, council lawyer Simon Goacher has outlawed any debate because it could pre-judge the forthcoming planning application.

He wrote: “It would be inappropriate for such issues to be debated in full council before the matter came before the appropriate committee. If this were to happen it would leave the council exposed to legal challenge.”

Petition organiser Mike Cowle said: “They have said because it’s a planning issue they can’t debate it but there is no planning application in as yet. The proposed student village has been debated even though an application is expected, so what is the difference?

“They don’t want to debate it so they have changed the goal posts.”

The petition was supported by Chester’s Tory MP Stephen Mosley who hinted to The Chronicle that discussions are ongoing within the Conservative-led council to come up with an alternative plan.

He said: “For me it’s a black and white issue. It’s green belt land and the council’s own policies say it’s inappropriate development.”

The campaigners have now instructed £250-an-hour London-based barrister Juan Lopez, a planning specialist, who will write to every council member presenting the legal case against the site.